Skip to contentSkip to footer

Controller Interviews

Salaries
Interviews

Controller Interview Questions

"When hiring a controller, a company will look for candidates who have the business mindset, accounting experience, and essential soft skills to oversee the entire accounting department. Before interviewing for a controllership, prepare to answer questions not only about your knowledge of accounting, but also about your management strategies, communication skills, and knowledge of business operations."

Top Controller Interview Questions & How to Answer

Question 1

Question #1: What would you do if you found a discrepancy in a document an executive provided?

How to answer
How to answer: A controller reports to the top of the management hierarchy. The individual may report directly to a board of directors or a CEO. With this question, your interviewer wants to know how you'll handle a sensitive matter such as this one. Think about ethics. The company interviewing you will want you to demonstrate strong ethics in handling sensitive information.
Question 2

Question #2: Can you tell me about a time you set up accounting or financial controls?

How to answer
How to answer: In answering this question, focus on how you've set up controls at previous jobs to prevent fraud and errors. The interviewer wants to know how your knowledge and skills will improve the company you're interviewing for, especially regarding reducing fraud and financial mistakes. If you don't have previous experience setting up controls, mention industry standards and briefly talk about how you will successfully implement controls for the company in question.
Question 3

Question #3: What is your approach to working with your financial team?

How to answer
How to answer: Highlight your leadership skills as you describe how you work with other financial professionals. Let the interviewer know that you can balance motivating a team to work while insisting on financial accuracy. Demonstrate your soft skills because controllers need to see the big picture, the details, and the financial team's operations.

6,846 controller interview questions shared by candidates

The The hiring process consists of taking a personality test, Pretty standard stuff. Then an onsite interview with team and manager. If you make it through that they will call you back for an interview with the CEO. There is a urine and hair drug test. Also Able is a tobacco free work place. They do random tests for tobacco and if you test positive you will be fired.
avatar

Controller

Interviewed at Able Engineering & Component Services

3.4★
Oct 10, 2013

The The hiring process consists of taking a personality test, Pretty standard stuff. Then an onsite interview with team and manager. If you make it through that they will call you back for an interview with the CEO. There is a urine and hair drug test. Also Able is a tobacco free work place. They do random tests for tobacco and if you test positive you will be fired.

Are you really strong at accounting? Are you easily pushed around or influenced? Do you have backbone? Do you have a strong sense of integrity and will do what's right even when being told to do something incorrectly?

Financial Controller

Interviewed at Kortmed Marketing & Management

2.9★
Feb 11, 2015

Are you really strong at accounting? Are you easily pushed around or influenced? Do you have backbone? Do you have a strong sense of integrity and will do what's right even when being told to do something incorrectly?

Viewing 2551 - 2560 interview questions

Glassdoor has 6,846 interview questions and reports from Controller interviews. Prepare for your interview. Get hired. Love your job.